Hoi An City People’s Committee has just approved a VND200 million (US$10,000) project to preserve the world heritage city’s rural culture.The “Researching solutions for Hoi An’s rural culture preservation in urbanization” project will be carried by the city’s Phan Chau Trinh University.Chairman of the project Le Tien Cong said there will be plans to collect documents about the Hoi An’s rural culture and field trips to survey how the rural culture influences on the community as well as seminars with experts on culture preservation to prevent the corrosion of traditional rural culture values caused by the process of urbanization.The project is expected to be finished by 2013.In related news, local authorities recently have given approval to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to launch a US$700,000 plan to turn Hoi An into Vietnam’s first ecological city.Source: tuoitre A corner of the ancient Hoi An City … [Read more...] about Hoi An plans to preserve rural culture
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Hoi An-Japan cultural exchange festival opens
(Cinet)- The ninth Vietnam – Japan Cultural Exchance festival opened on August 20 in Hoi An. The event is jointly organised by the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam (JF), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Hoi An municipal People’s Committee. The three-day event includes an exhibition of products made from recycled waste, folk games, photographs in Japanese traditional costumes, a charity concert to support Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims, instruction in origami and a boat race. Hoi An People's Committee chairman Le Van Giang said at the opening ceremony the annual festival allowed the two nations to show their cultures and forge a tighter relationship. Giang said it was significant that the Japanese had overcome the pain caused by their recent earthquake and tsunami to take part in the festival. He said the festival was a show of solidarity of spirit in difficult … [Read more...] about Hoi An-Japan cultural exchange festival opens
Hoi An greets 1.5 million arrivals
The ancient city of Hoi An has received some 1.5 million visitors this year, half of them foreign tourists, an 18.3 per cent increase over last year. Of the visitors 649,000 stayed overnight in the ancient city, staying for an average of 2.16 days each. "The number of visitors has hit a record high since the ancient city was listed in tourism maps at home and abroad," the Chairman of the Hoi An People's Committee, Le Van Giang, said. Source: VNS … [Read more...] about Hoi An greets 1.5 million arrivals
U90 band preserves the soul of Hoi An
VietNamNet Bridge - In the hall situated in the center of the ancient town of Hoi An, musicians with wrinkled hands are passionately playing music. Every few minutes, the audiences clap their hands. "I went from curiosity to admiration," said Hieu, a visitor from Hanoi, after the show. A French couple called at the house to enjoy five music pieces, film, take photos and enthusiastically applauded. Mr. La Gia Quang, 86, said his band has worked for around 10 years. They initially performed at the Serenade café, located in an alley on Le Loi Street. The band has moved to a new place, named Cung Dan Xua. Currently the band consists of three musicians and a singer. The oldest member is 86 years old and the youngest is 62. The band only performs on the 14th and 15th day of the lunar month, from 7pm to 9pm. Mr. Quang is the nephew of the late musician Hoi La Hoi, who is known for "Spring and Youth" song. He began playing piano and guitar when he was a child. In Hoi An, he has … [Read more...] about U90 band preserves the soul of Hoi An
French journalist presents two precious photos to Hoi An
(Cinet)- Dominique Foulon, a journalist from the Carnets du Vietnam has presented Hoi An city with two precious photos of Cau Pagoda - a symbol of the UNESCO-recognised world cultural heritage site. … [Read more...] about French journalist presents two precious photos to Hoi An